Focus on Energy has resumed its program to provide incentives for renewable energy systems.

As part of a relaunch of its programs this month, Focus on Energy is providing about $2 million available for biomass, biogas, solar and wind energy projects, according to Renew Wisconsin, an advocacy group for renewables.

“We are pleased that the funding uncertainties with Focus on Energy are behind us and that the renewable energy program is back up and running,” said Don Wichert, interim executive director of Renew. “With the resumption of incentives, there is no need for customers to ‘wait and see’ what the future holds.”

Renewable incentives were suspended last year after the program saw heavy demand for incentives and sought to fund projects that were already in queue but not fund further projects. Funding more projects would have resulted in fewer funds being available for energy efficiency projects, which deliver a higher payback for businesses and homeowners.

Focus on Energy has been in transition since the transfer of the management of the program to Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure from the non-profit Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp.

The new programs “will allow Focus on Energy to deliver cost-effective energy savings and better serve the utility ratepayers of Wisconsin while further adding to an already successful mix of programs available to residents and businesses in the state,” said Bill Haas, program director, in a statement.

Funded through charges on monthly utility bills, Focus on Energy is overseen by the state Public Service Commission, in conjunction with a group comprised of the state’s major power companies.

About Thomas Content

Thomas Content covers energy, clean technology and sustainable business. A series he co-wrote on energy and climate change won top honors in 2008 from the National Press Foundation.

Energy Business News

EnSync Energy Systems has shipped a utility-scale energy storage system to South Korea, the Menomonee Falls company said.

The 500-kilowatt-hour system incorporates enough battery power for four or more hours of discharge, using EnSync’s zinc bromide flow batteries as well as power electronics and converters.

Formerly known as ZBB Energy, EnSync is focused on smaller energy storage systems for commercial buildings such as projects it's built in Hawaii in recent years. But it's also been working on larger energy storage systems.